Broad-band coherent backscattering spectroscopy of the interplay between order and disorder in 3D opal photonic crystals

We present an investigation of coherent backscattering of light that is multiple scattered by a photonic crystal by using a broad-band technique. The results significantly extend on previous backscattering measurements on photonic crystals by simultaneously accessing a large frequency and angular range. Backscatter cones around the stop gap are successfully modelled with diffusion theory for a random medium. Strong variations of the apparent mean free path and the cone enhancement are observed around the stop band. The variations of the mean free path are described by a semi-empirical three-gap model including band structure effects on the internal reflection and penetration depth. A good match between theory and experiment is obtained without the need of additional contributions of group velocity or density of states. We argue that the cone enhancement reveals additional information on directional transport properties that are otherwise averaged out in diffuse multiple scattering.

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